Our Kiwanis International Foundation is the charitable arm of Kiwanis International, overseeing a $16 million trust fund. It is a legally independent entity with its own dedicated and hardworking board of trustees and staff, but it works closely with Kiwanis International to fulfill its mission to financially support Kiwanis International in serving the children of the world.
We make grants for worthy service projects sponsored by Kiwanis and K-Family clubs all over the world who lack the financial resources to go it alone. When the Kiwanis Club of Laoag City, Philippines sought funding for its Mothercraft Health and Nutrition Program, which teaches basic skills in meal planning and food preparation to mothers and caregivers, we were there to help. When money was needed for educational expenses and development toys for children with downs syndrome in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, we were there for them. For every worthy grant application that we funded last year, however, there were four others that we were forced to decline because we lacked funding for them, which is heartbreaking.
We also have been active in providing emergency disaster relief assistance, whether for an Asia-Pacific tsunami or for Superstorm Sandy right here at home.
How do we fund these programs? While all Kiwanians who are members of clubs in good standing are members of our foundation, we do not receive any share of the dues paid by our members to Kiwanis International. We are able to provide grants only through the generosity of Kiwanians like yourself. And so, we have many fund raising programs that seek donations on an individual and a club level, and that offer appropriate recognition for the philanthropic spirit and generosity shown in these donations. These include the George F. Hixson Fellowship, which recognizes a $1,000 donation, and offers increasing diamond level recognition for each successive $1,000 donation; the Tablet of Honor, which is bestowed upon a $2,000 donation by a person other than the recipient of the tablet; and the Kiwanis Leadership Society, which is based on a $250 donation to the Kiwanis Children's Fund.
We also recognize Benefactors for a $5,000 lifetime donation; Honored Benefactors for $10,000; and members of our Founders Circle for their $25,000 lifetime donation, with different levels of this circle being attained at further $25,000 intervals.
On the club level, our Annual Club Gift continues to be a substantial source of grant revenue. Each district is eligible for scholarships under this program, the number of which are determined by the amount of their per-capita member donation, and they also receive 5 percent of the money raised in their district, which may be used for foundation-related purposes. We also receive contributions from clubs for our Children's Fund through our annual Skip a Meal Program.
Thank you for everything that you have done and will do to support our International Foundation. When you give generously to our foundation you are promoting the aims of Kiwanis and extending your reach around the world to those who truly cannot help themselves.
Column Posted on Web Site April 22, 2013
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated